Caryatids and Crowns: How to Braid a Classical Hairstyle

The Caryatid Hairstyling Project, led by Dr. Katherine Schwab at Fairfield University in Connecticut, aimed to recreate the hairstyles of the caryatids—the six female figures that support the temple porch on the Acropolis in Athens—on student volunteers. The project sought to understand if the elaborate hairstyles depicted on the sculptures were realistic representations of ancient Greek hairstyles or artistic conventions. Dr. Schwab and her students worked together with a hairdresser to replicate the styles, which included both crown and fishtail braids. They also discovered that, although the styles could be replicated on all types of hair, it was much easier to braid wavy, Mediterranean hair.

The event at DVAA will occur in two parts. It will begin with a screening of a short, 20-minute video about Dr. Schwab’s project, followed by a hands-on demonstration of crown braiding by Stephanie Manzi. This workshop is organized by Virginia Maksymowicz, as part of her solo exhibition at DVAA in November, . Join us to learn a more in-depth perspective of the work on view and a new skill!

Workshops at DVAA, unfortunately, now cost money after years of being offered for free due to decreased funding. If you are unable to attend due to a cost barrier, please reach out to us and we will find a sponsor to cover your ticket.

* DVAA is a historic row home in the Bella Vista neighborhood. We are not yet wheelchair accessible; Da Vinci is a three floor gallery with narrow staircases. (We are working towards becoming ADA accessible by 2027!) It is 5 steps up to the first floor level, and 14 steps from the first to second floor, where the gender-neutral bathroom is located. Da Vinci has masks and COVID tests available at our events. We can reserve seats for low-vision and Deaf and HoH community members as needed. For information, or to notify our team members of any needs prior to your visit, please contact [email protected].

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